Nearly a million Brits trekked out to festivals this past week, as some of the world’s biggest bands landed on legendary multi-artist shows like Reading, Leeds and the decade-old traveling tour, V Festival. But in between sets by crowd favorites like Foo Fighters, Nine Inch Nails, Arcade Fire, Smashing Pumpkins, Fall Out Boy, Kanye West and Razorlight, the big buzz backstage centered around a band that was nowhere to be found on the bill, and hasn’t played together in almost 20 years: legendary British noise-rockers My Bloody Valentine (pictured, circa 1991).
Of course, rumors of an impending reunion have been circulating forever, as fans look to frontman Kevin Shields’ every move for signs of a comeback. Since 1997, Shields has been a touring member of Primal Scream, but it was when he curated the soundtrack to Sofia Coppola’s 2003 film Lost in Translation that comeback talk hit a fever pitch. And so it has again with the recent launch of a My Bloody Valentine MySpace page and numerous blog posts hinting at a possible performance at Coachella. Well, being diehard MBV followers ourselves, we’ve also been snooping around and have learned, through sources who didn’t want to be named, that "it’s definitely happening."
To that, I say, Hell, yeah — it’s about friggin’ time! Despite Creation Records founder Alan McGee’s recent comments that MBV was his "joke band," I think there’s no doubt that Loveless has, through the test of time, gained official status as a classic album. I’d even say it was life-changing. Would you agree, PopWatchers? Anyone else praising the rock Gods for the return of this seminal band?
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Loveless is indeed a classic. And a number of there eps, as well as Isn’t Anything, as also quite good. But I’m nearvous about new material from them. Is a big reunion ever a good idea? I say, let the legacy remain.
Loveless is indeed a classic. And a number of thier eps, as well as Isn’t Anything, was also quite good. But I’m nearvous about new material from them. Is a big reunion ever a good idea? I say, let the legacy remain.
Heck, yeah. I’ll take any excuse to shoegaze, especially with a shot of nostalgia on the side…
This is GREAT news; Loveless is one of those CDs that can fit into any era because it’s mostly timeless. Undeniably full of hooks and grand pop sensibilities, it’s STILL not what one would call “easily accessible.” There’s truly nothing like it anywhere, and I hope MBV are so recharged by the reunion show that Shields and Co. reconvene for another album. With today’s technology having caught up to the sound he made in ‘91, maybe Shields will give us something we’d hear circa 2020 or so. I, for one, can’t wait.
I love this band. I never heard it on its time (they never sound in Lima back then) but I get to know them in the late 90’s and I fell for them. It would be nice to hear them make new things now. I’m also wishing a new Portishead album.
Love Loveless, and I’ll be thrilled if they reunite.
That is fantastic news, Loveless is such an amazing sounding record. I can only hope they will do Lollapalooza or something as well, I don’t know if I could pull off Coachella!
Jason makes a valid point about reunions, but I’ll still risk disapointment…something 1/2 as good as Loveless will still be better than 1/2 of the current indie rock.
Great to see great music being recognized in this column for a change! Cheers Coachella!
Fking right!
It’s about time – I’m listening to a great remix of “Soon” as we speak!!!
working on a show in 07.
Eh…I’ll take a wait-and-see attitude on this one. We’ve been hearing about a forthcoming MBV reunion for the last decade. I can’t bear to get my hopes up again before I see the band’s name at the top of the Coachella roster, and even then I’ll be skeptical as I fly cross country to stand in the mud.
20 years? They haven’t played together since 1987? Hmmm, how did they manage to release those records in the ’90s?
It says “almost 20 years,” Mr. Smartypants, and their last release was in 1991.
Hopefully they’ll at least do what The Pixies did, tour with the classic material and let everyone wonder about new stuff. Truly, it can never match the original, but who knows. No doubt Kevin Shields should have AT LEAST put out a solo album by now.
For true alternative music, “Loveless” is classic.
MBV changed everything for me. When I was a wee teenager I remember hearing Loveless for the first time and nothing was ever the same after. It shaped the way I think about music. Everything they released from Sunny Sundae Smile up to their last cover of Map Ref is brilliant. There will never be another band like this. Our generation’s Velvets!
HOLY MOTHER MARY MAGDALENE
WHY didnt anyone tell me My Bloody Valentine is rumored to reunite at Coachella in 2008? Never did I imagine myself ever setting foot upon the soil of Southern California again, but I would gladly do so and…
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I just found an article on these reunion talks at Exclaim! magazine’s website
http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/generalarticlesynopsfullart.aspx?csid1=125&csid2=844&fid1=33675
might be of interest to you too
i agreed with author. thanksq
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